Humankind and Nature: An Endangered System of Interdependence in Today's Globalising World

As climate change continues to batter the coastlines of North America and elsewhere, and as extreme weather events provide abundant proof of its reality, religious leaders can no longer ignore the fact that the human has become a geologic force, a force that must be re-educated and re-formed in order to guarantee safe passage into a sustainable future. Hopefully, Jesuits and their lay partners can continue to provide leadership in regard to this issue, correctly identified by Fr Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, as a top priority. In this particular context, the role of religions and their valuable contributions must be evaluated. Religion’s role is not simply one of morality; rather, it seeks, especially in Christianity, to show the face of God. It is out of this relation that believers then seek to live towards the “good,” especially in relation to their neighbours, creation and God. Religious believers may have failed severely in communicating this relationship in the twenty-first century. This publication gathers together a roster of Western and Asian experts’ contributions from various fields of knowledge related to ecology, anthropology, religions and ethics, economics, technology, and to environmental and health protection studies. This collection of essays embracing a wide scope of current topics, theme and questions will renew awareness of the ecological dilemma and stimulate reflection on its spiritual and social dimensions.

Albert Wong (王曉晞) has been an Academic Assistant at the Macau Ricci Institute since 2009. He graduated from the University of Macau, receiving a BA in English Studies (2004). He went to the United States in 2005 and received his MA in Sociology in 2007 at SUNY Binghamton. His major research interests are the politics and society of Macau. He is a regular contributor to Sonpou (訊報), and Macau Observer (澳門觀察報), two local weeklies.

Artur K. Wardega, SJ (萬德化), is Director of the Macau Ricci Institute and a specialist in twentieth-century Chinese and French literature. He has published several articles in the Macau Ricci Institute's quarterly 神州交流 Chinese Cross Currents and in scholarly journals both in China and abroad. His recent publications include various French and Chinese translations and editorial work for scholarly publications.